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ABOUT US
It has been nearly three years since the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) announcement was made
which included the integration of the Army and the Navy’s two biggest and most prominent hospitals:
Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC), and the National Naval Medical Center (NNMC). Once made
law, it was evident that military medicine in the National Capital Region (NCR) would never be quite the
same, and the integration of these two military medical giants would likely be the model for the future of
military medicine as we know it.
The Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical Command
(JTF CapMed) is established.
In September of 2007, the JTF CapMed, a fully functional Standing Joint Task
Force was established. Located on the NNMC campus and reporting directly to
the Secretary of Defense through the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the newly
formed Command was charged with leading the way for the effective and efficient
consolidation and realignment of military healthcare in the NCR. Rear Admiral John
Mateczun was appointed to lead the mission. Having a single leader in charge, allows
for proper focus on patient care by the hospital Commanders, and allows for BRAC
planning by the JTF CapMed Commander.
VADM Mateczun has significant managerial and
leadership experience and is particularly skilled in
focusing groups and individuals on a common set of
priorities and obtaining consensus on the courses of
action required to achieve intended objectives and
outcomes. He has served as Joint Staff Surgeon,
Commander of the Medical Center in San Diego, Chief
Operating Officer for Navy Medicine as the Deputy
Surgeon General, and also was the Director for the
Military Health System Office of Transformation.
Establishing a clear and concise VISION, VADM
Mateczun proposed that the future Walter Reed
National Military Medical Center at Bethesda would be:
“A world-class medical center at the hub of the
nation’s premier regional healthcare system serving
our military and our nation.”
The JTF leader’s MISSION was also made clear: “We will deliver integrated healthcare in the NCR,
ensure readiness, and execute the BRAC business plan to achieve the Vision.”
To accomplish this unified medical mission, the medical services of the Army, Navy, and Air Force in the NCR
will integrate to ensure the best utilization of resources available which will eliminate redundancies,
enhance clinical care, promote health professions education and joint training, and enhance military
medical research opportunities. This integration will also further the growth of transformative efforts with
government, community and private sector partners.
JTF has clearly defined the Principles and Priorities that guide their actions:
A Focus on the Mission. We are at war and have a responsibility to provide healthcare services while we prepare
and train for deployments and contingencies. Our greatest commitment is to the health and well being of the men
and women who serve our country. Our nation has seen its share of Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Soldiers injured
while fighting for the welfare of others during Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. As America’s future primary
reception site for returning casualties and trauma care, there is nothing more important to our mission than taking
care of our wounded, ill and injured warriors and their families. Force Health Protection is an on-going, four-pronged
approach which includes:
- Casualty Care: Providing health care to returning or injured service personnel
- Individual Medical Readiness: Maintaining a fit and ready force.
- Deployment of Army, Navy and Air Force medical practitioners, often into harm’s way.
- Family-Centered Care: Providing care to our other beneficiaries at home; families and retired.
Serving Our People. Our success depends on the contributions of our active, reserve, civilian, and contract
personnel and their families. Their personal readiness is essential to our mission. One of our Priorities is caring for
the caregivers. Our people are called to provide healthcare often under trying circumstances. It is a tough job and
we have a covenant responsibility to care for them.
Interoperability and Leadership. Leadership is key to service. We are currently in a unique situation to be able to
draw leadership potential from all Services. Since each Service brings unique and critical capabilities to the table,
we will have the “best of the best.” Yet, with interoperability, the fusion of working together on all levels, must come
teamwork and trust. These are the keys to agile leadership and interoperability between the Services.
Regional Healthcare Delivery. Integrated planning for the efficient and effective delivery of services on a regional
basis is the key to quality and to mission success. We will use common business standards and clinical processes
to maximize region-wide growth and potential.
Our Pledge to YOU:
Military healthcare professionals are filling a wide range of roles – demonstrating courage, compassion, ingenuity,
and excellence. The staff members of the JTF, and of the Military Health Care Treatment Facilities throughout the
NCR, both military and civilian, pledge to
you, active duty service members; your
families; retired service members and all
eligible beneficiaries, our sincerest
commitment that you will receive the
highest quality of care during this exciting
evolution. We take full accountability for
our decisions and actions and will meet
our responsibilities to you with integrity
and honor.
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During the realignment and
construction process, we will strive to
minimize the inconvenience to our
beneficiaries as they access healthcare
services. There will be changes in the
locations of delivery of specific services
as the building plans unfold and the
BRAC Plan progresses, but at no time
throughout the construction phases of
this enormous undertaking will the
quality of patient care be diminished. It
will be challenging, but we will continue
our most important mission… excellent
patient care.
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The planning, formation and architectural design of the Walter Reed National
Military Medical Center are well under way. Once complete, the facility at
Bethesda will be the first of its kind — a world-class, state-of-the-art healthcare
center. It will deliver the highest quality of medical care, provide the best in
graduate medical training, collaborate on unique military medical research
needs and serve as a worldwide military referral and coordination center.
“This is an ‘artist’s conception’ of the initial renovation and construction of the Walter
Reed National Military Medical Center as it is currently proposed - and subject to revision
based on the outcome of the EIS and the contracting of a construction agent.”
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